interesting review of 6 volt batteries

From experience, if it's made by East Penn, it's going to be a good one. All of our "real" tractors run Deka batteries (made by EP) and they last and last and last. I've never had any of the "6 vOlT BaTtErIeS oNlY lAsT TwO yEaRs" issues with their batteries.

Al
 
I agree about Deka and I'm lucky enough to be within driving distance of the factory where they have a "blems" outlet. Saves about 40% off the retail price. I put a 6 volt "blem" in my restored WWII Jeep and when I sold the Jeep 10 years later the battery was still functioning as if it were new. All my tractors have Deka blems (6 or 12v) as well as both of our cars.
 
I live about 45 minutes from the East Penn manufacturing plant. Their 2nds are sold under the underwhelming brand name Useable. A local farmer has a side business selling them. When I bought my H, it came with a Useable battery (that wasn't useable for long). I replaced it with a Useable battery, that if I recall correctly was under $90.

When the time comes for a new battery for the Cub, it's going to be Useable. :-)

130052385_3578088162272190_6343337634632827737_n.jpg
 
There aren't many companies that make 6-volt batteries. I think that reviewer must have recommended nearly all of them. Look at his pictures of NAPA and Duralast. They have the same case with a big flat area on the side where they can stick on any label.

Prices on 6-volt batteries seem to be very heavily weighted by local competition. If one outlet has the local monopoly, price seems to go sky high. Right now, my least expensive appears to be a Duralast at Runnings, about $70. The local Fleet Farm has their own "Farm Rated" brand, which has a case just like NAPA and Duralast, for $77.

The best thing you can do to make them last is still to keep a battery tender connected.
 
Inspectorjoe":2yy1r457 said:
I live about 45 minutes from the East Penn manufacturing plant. Their 2nds are sold under the underwhelming brand name Useable. A local farmer has a side business selling them. When I bought my H, it came with a Useable battery (that wasn't useable for long). I replaced it with a Useable battery, that if I recall correctly was under $90.

When the time comes for a new battery for the Cub, it's going to be Useable. :-)

130052385_3578088162272190_6343337634632827737_n.jpg
Click to expand...
A new non second 6v battery doesn't even cost $90 today does it? I bought mine like two years ago but I think it was about $60 and that wasn't the cheapest I could find. Now with Bidenomics I know there more but for a second that seems awfully expensive!! I am buying my 12v batteries the last 10 years or so from Walmart and I can buy a battery now for I believe it's $50-60 for the one year batteries which I have had very good life out of. I have I think at least three in service in various things..maybe 4?
 
Jim Becker":2ioormdz said:
There aren't many companies that make 6-volt batteries. I think that reviewer must have recommended nearly all of them. Look at his pictures of NAPA and Duralast. They have the same case with a big flat area on the side where they can stick on any label.

Prices on 6-volt batteries seem to be very heavily weighted by local competition. If one outlet has the local monopoly, price seems to go sky high. Right now, my least expensive appears to be a Duralast at Runnings, about $70. The local Fleet Farm has their own "Farm Rated" brand, which has a case just like NAPA and Duralast, for $77.

The best thing you can do to make them last is still to keep a battery tender connected.
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yep a battery will last the longest when it stays fully charged. And that means at it's proper float voltage not just the 100% charge
 
Clemsonfor":3exlbwav said:
Inspectorjoe":3exlbwav said:
I live about 45 minutes from the East Penn manufacturing plant. Their 2nds are sold under the underwhelming brand name Useable. A local farmer has a side business selling them. When I bought my H, it came with a Useable battery (that wasn't useable for long). I replaced it with a Useable battery, that if I recall correctly was under $90.

When the time comes for a new battery for the Cub, it's going to be Useable. :-)

130052385_3578088162272190_6343337634632827737_n.jpg
Click to expand...
A new non second 6v battery doesn't even cost $90 today does it? I bought mine like two years ago but I think it was about $60 and that wasn't the cheapest I could find. Now with Bidenomics I know there more but for a second that seems awfully expensive!! I am buying my 12v batteries the last 10 years or so from Walmart and I can buy a battery now for I believe it's $50-60 for the one year batteries which I have had very good life out of. I have I think at least three in service in various things..maybe 4?
Click to expand...

Last 6V I bought was close to $100. They had been running around $80. The other day after I replied to this thread I went to Tractor Supply and they were around $125 there.

Comparable 12v batteries were in the same general vicinity.

Al
 
Deka is made in PA, the plant is like a city, they sell their brand under many names,Napa Batteries are Deka
 
wnCBhaZ.jpg
 
Rural king or agri supply if your lucky enough to have one near you or a batteries plus and use a coupon they can get cheaper....those stores are all over the place.

Edit: I just looked up agrisupply and in the last few years they have almost doubled their 6v price it looks like
 
I do see that batteries plus has them for $109 and I see they have a 10% off coupon. It does say that it's not eligible for the 20% off coupon.
 
Old thread, but the cub I just bought has the Optima red top 6v. Ammeter may not be working correctly. I get some movement, but just a hair. Put my meter on it at the battery and get about 6.3v at idle and 6.7 when I increase throttle.. The battery was bought in 2015, according to the former owner, so I figure it is about at the end of the road. After reading about short life for others styles and looking at the new price of another Optima, I think I'll make due with what I have until it don't work. Keeping it on one of the maintainers.
 
B. White said:
Old thread, but the cub I just bought has the Optima red top 6v. Ammeter may not be working correctly. I get some movement, but just a hair. Put my meter on it at the battery and get about 6.3v at idle and 6.7 when I increase throttle.. The battery was bought in 2015, according to the former owner, so I figure it is about at the end of the road. After reading about short life for others styles and looking at the new price of another Optima, I think I'll make do with what I have until it don't work. Keeping it on one of the maintainers.
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I have an Optima on my Cub. It’s about 5 years old and still running strong.
 
I only get the EP batteries now for the Cub on up and for lawn tractor batteries I just buy the EverStart. The sheds are away from the house so I use solar trickle chargers and while they are $40 or so, they work well.
 
Inspectorjoe said:
I live about 45 minutes from the East Penn manufacturing plant. Their 2nds are sold under the underwhelming brand name Useable. A local farmer has a side business selling them. When I bought my H, it came with a Useable battery (that wasn't useable for long). I replaced it with a Useable battery, that if I recall correctly was under $90.

When the time comes for a new battery for the Cub, it's going to be Useable. :-)
Click to expand...
Same here, the Deka plant (EPM) is about 45 minutes from here near Fleetwood PA and not only did I put one in each tractor but also each vehicle, 6 or 12v. They used to call them blems or 2nd's. My experience has been that they last just as long as the ones you pay big bucks for at the retailer. Anybody living within an hour or so, it's well worth the drive, just remember to take your old battery with you or there's an extra charge.
 
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